A/N: You know, it's March and I thought that I would be able to update more often. However, as life happens, student teaching and my damn Portfolio have taken up most of my time. Even so, here is the next theme. I particularly enjoyed this theme, which has numerous references to the episode in question, including some words… Anyway. I don't own this show, unfortunately. Enjoy!

"…": characters talking to each other

'…': characters talking to themselves

(…): extra facts about something in the story

(Takes place during "Petrified Xander")

Theme 17: Mirror

Rootcore, October 20, 2006, 4:00 PM – Briarwood, CA, USA

Xander fingered the bulbous pimple that had taken up residence on his nose distractedly. 'This sucks. My face is ruined, and all they care about is some stupid map. My face is more important!'

No one noticed Xander's distraction with his reflection until Chip ran over and grabbed the mirror he had been using. Xander's dark glare harmlessly bounced off the Yellow Ranger's back as the aforementioned used the mirror to reflect the map.

"Mt. Fuego!" was the general response of the collected rangers, all of them feeling like idiots because they hadn't realized earlier that the map was a mountain. Congratulations were passed around to Chip, who stood there proudly and modestly

'Is that even possible?' Xander wondered, sitting down on a step near the entrance to Rootcore.

Clare came over then and, picking up a small perfume bottle sprayed a vase of dead roses then sat back, biting her nails impatiently. Xander glanced over, curious, and felt his hope rise as he saw the roses become new again.

"Clare, what is that?"

Clare looked over and, ecstatic that someone was asking her to explain something (you understand, it was usually the other way around) replied, "It's a potion that I made to bring dead things like these roses back to life. I am so happy that it works! I can't wait to tell Udonna!"

Xander took in Clare's explanation with a calm expression but on the inside... 'Yes! This is the answer to my problem!'

"Brilliant," he whispered and, hearing the retreating footsteps of his comrades he made a decision. Picking up the perfume bottle he closed his eyes and sprayed a little of the potion on his face. Blinking, he placed it down and hurried out, missing Clare's words as they floated back to him, "It's not suitable for people, of course, but it really works on plants..."

Mt. Fuego, October 20, 2006, 4:30 PM – Briarwood, CA, USA

Vida was climbing up the mountainside of Mt. Fuego, mulling over her progress as a ranger. She was no closer to summoning the Fairy's Sai, but she knew that she was more powerful then she had been. The extra training with Clare and Udonna helped a lot.

"V!" Vida turned around and saw a panting Xander run up to her.

"What? Did you find something?!" Vida asked excitedly, hoping that Xander had found the prize – whatever it was supposed to be – so that she could go back to the Rock Porium and finish her shift as a DJ. She'd been sorely missing it, and considering that she wasn't allowed to practice it at home, work (and, to a lesser extent school) were her only places of solace.

"Hmm... oh, no. Not that," Xander murmured distractedly. Upon seeing Vida's eyes flash, he continued, "Look!" He fingered his face for emphasis.

"What?"

"That horrible pimple's gone!" Xander crowed, grinning happily at his friend and grabbing her arms to communicate his excitement.

Vida's face fell into half-snarl and half-frown before she replied, "You know, Xander, there's only room for two people on this mountain – you and your ego." She then broke free and stomped off.

Xander frowned. "She didn't have to sound so mad... she could have been happy for me," he muttered irritatingly, kicking a rock away from him before following.

Vida was pissed. 'Idiot. It was just a pimple; I had them all the time two years ago, and he laughed at me then. I thought he'd be over it.'

She sighed as the sun reflecting off something caught her attention. 'Oh well. Prat's going to get what's coming to him soon enough.'

How right she was, and Xander did learn a lesson that day – his friends were there for him, even if he did something massively stupid over something as minor as a pimple. Plus, mirrors just weren't all that appealing anyway...